Circonflex accent – accent circonflexe
Let's Define It!
What's a *circonflex* accent?
The accent circonflexe [circonflex accent] is this little character resembling a hat (^).
- Generally speaking, a circonflex accent is used to "open" a vowel.
- It can go above all the five vowels of the French alphabet a, e, i , o , u.
- It can serve to lengthen the pronounciation of a certain vowel sound.
- It sometimes results from the deletion of a letter with certain modern words, oftentimes, an
that used to exist in the past --> tête for teste (head) - It also indicate a lengthened vowel: le vôtre (yours)
- It also serves to differentiate ortographically (i.e. spelling) two similar-looking words (sur vs sûr / du vs dû)
- When applied on [e], it sounds like e accent grave.
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Let's Pronounce It!
What does it sound like in French?
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Let's Have an Example or Two!
Can a little reinforcement do the trick?
Take a look at the circonflex in actual words.
- une fenêtre / window
- une île / island
- un bâton / stick
- bientôt / soon
- une flûte / flute
- une mûre / blackberry
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